Propeller.



0. H. JOHNSON,

PROPELLEB.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1911.

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Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

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CHARLES H. JOHNSON, OF EUREKA, UTAH.

PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Application filed May 18, 1911. Serial No. 627,386

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. J OHNSOX, a citizen of the United States,residing at Eureka, in the county of J uab and State of Utah, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawing.

This invention relates to the subject of propellers for use inconnection with marine, aerial, or land vehicles, and the principalobject of the same is to provide novel means for shifting the blades ofthe propellers so that the direction of travel of the vehicle can becontrolled without changing the direction of rotation of the drivingshaft.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in sideelevation of the stern of a boat broken away to show the application ofthis invention. Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is aview in elevation showing the shifting mechanism and shaft in sideelevation and the shaft coupling in section. Fig. 1 is a transversesectional view taken on the line H, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a transversesectional view taken on the line 55 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a transversesectional view taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 3. .Fig. 7 is a transversevertical sectional view taken through the hub of the propeller. Fig. 8is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 8-8, Fig.7. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line99, Fig. 7.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals it will be seen thatthe improved propeller has been shown in connection with a boat 10 andcomprises a drive shaft 11 and a propeller shaft 12. Shaft 11 is inboardand is driven by a motor (not shown) in the usual, or any preferredmanner. The rear end of the shaft 11 extends into the forward end of ashaft coupling 13 that is formed of two complemental sections which arefastened together in rigid relation by the embracing band or bands 14. AU-shaped clip extends transversely through one of the sections of thecoupling 13 and has a flattened body 15 that surrounds shaft 11. Nuts 16engage the threaded legs 17 of said clip to lock the shaft 11 rigidly tothe coupling section through which said clip eX- tends. The rear end ofcoupling 13 has the propeller shaft 12 extending therein, said couplingbeing provided with keyways 18 that are engaged by the keys 19 of saidshaft 12. The keyways 18 and keys 19 obviously permit shaft 12 to havelongitudinal movement in coupling 13, but prevent said shaft rotatingrelative to said coupling.

Shaft 12 projects through the usual or any preferred type of sleevebearing 20 in the stern of the boat and is journaled in hanger bearings21 depending from said stern. The propeller has its hub 22 mounted onthe rear end of shaft 12 between the hanger bearings 21, said hub. beingin two transverse sections which are held together by the longitudinallyextending bolts 23 and the nuts 24 carried by said bolts. Internally,the hub 22 is provided with longitudinal keyways 25 that are engaged bythe keys 26 of shaft section 12, so that said shaft can havelongitudinal movement therein, but is prevented from rotating therein.

Hub 22 is provided with central recesses 27 in which the gears 28 at theinner ends of the shanks 29 of the propeller blades 30 are located.Shanks 29 carry collars 31 that are disposed in recesses 32 whichprevent longitudinal movement of said shanks. Propeller shaft 12 withinhub 22 is provided with racks 33 which are in mesh with the gears 28.

Adjacent the rear end of coupling 13, propeller shaft 12 carries a pairof spaced flanges 3d and a collar 35 loosely surrounds said shaftbetween said flanges. Collar 35 is straddled by the forked end 36 of ashifting lever 37, said forked end being equipped with lugs 38 thatpivotally engage opposite portions of said collar. Lever 37 is equippedwith a hand operated pawl 39 for engaging a rack 4-0 to lock the saidlever in the desired position.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that the coupling 13prevents relative rotation of shafts 11 and 12, but said shaft 12 can belongitudinally moved relative to said coupling and shaft 11. Shaft 12 islongitudinally moved by shifting lever 37, and such movement of saidshaft causes racks 33 to rotate gears 28 and thereby change the pitch ofthe blades 30. By this construction it will be seen that the propellercan be operated to propel the boat forward or backward without affectingthe operation of the shafts 11 and 12.

Coupling 13 is formed of two separable sections and hub 22 is similarlyformed. Therefore, it will be seen that said coupling and hub can bereadily separated when necessary or desirable to permit repairs orinspections.

The invention has been shown and described in connection with a marinevessel, but it will be understood that such is but one of the uses towhich the same may be applied. For instance, the invention could be usedin connection with air-shipsor with the type of land vehicles known asWind wagons.

What I claim as my invention is A device of the character describedcomprising a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a coupling connecting saidshafts, said coupling comprising a plurality of sections, each of saidsections provided with registering longitudinally extending grooves,laterally extending lugs formed upon said driven shaft and worklng insaid grooves, a

rack formed upon each side of said driven I shaft propeller hubsections, propeller blade shafts carried bet-ween the abutting ends ofsaid propeller hub sections, each of said propeller blade shaftsprovided with an enlarged collar formed thereon, a segmental gearcarried near the inner end of said propeller blade shaft and meshingwith said rack gears upon said driven shaft for adjusting the angle ofsaid propeller blades when said driven shaft is reciprocated within saidcoupling.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiX my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES H. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

J. H. HALES, HENRY FALKNER:

Copies of this patent may' be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C.

